Topeka
February 19, 2024
I mentioned last week that the Senate would be taking action on internet child viewing pornography. I am glad to report the Senate unanimously approved a new way to make it tougher for anyone in Kansas under 18 years of age to view pornography with a new age-verification requirement.
Two bills passed in the Senate this past week dealing with the fentanyl crisis in Kansas, SB 414 and SB 419. These bills will help law enforcement deal with this epidemic. These bills were asked for by law enforcement and will increase the criminal penalties for unlawful distribution of fentanyl-related controlled substances and increase the penalty for the crime when bodily harm is inflicted upon a child and add “fentanyl-related controlled substance” and “methamphetamine” to the list of terms defined in the crime.
Seven more state governors are preparing to deploy national guardsmen and other personnel to the Texas-Mexico border. I, along with some of my colleagues, continue to encourage the governor to send national guard troops to Texas. Hopefully, in the next week or so I hope to draft another letter to our governor asking her to support Texas by sending troops.
The Senate passed SB 1737 a resolution which affirms Texas Governor Grey Abbott’s right to defend the state of Texas from unrestrained illegal immigration. This resolution makes it clear that Kansas continues to embrace the benefits of legal immigration and applauds the achievements and contributions of those who have become citizens through legal means. The resolution points out mounting concerns for the safety of Kansas citizens. Statistics provided by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation show that there has been a 3,000% increase in positive fentanyl tests. Kansas joins 25 united governors and Governor Abbott, in asserting that as a state governor, he has a right to defend his state and its citizens against the unrestrained illegal immigration policies of President Biden.
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a meeting in Arizona and listen to the Governor of Arizona and the Yuma County sheriff speak on the border crisis. I do support legal immigration. After listening to their presentation, the numbers that were presented were shocking. The Yuma County sheriff said people from 140 different countries are flying into Mexico and the cartels are arranging transportation to the U.S.-Mexican border. The Yuma County sheriff stated that he has placed game cameras along the border, and from January to the first of December had videoed over 66,000 people crossing the border illegally into Yuma County, Arizona. In his presentation he said the cartel arranges transportation from the border to cities in Arizona, including Phoenix, through social media. He also told us that 300 known terrorists, on the terrorist watch list, have entered the United States. Please encourage our Kansas governor to send troops to the border.
I am looking forward to seeing many of you on February 24. Representative Adam Smith will be joining me, as we have set aside time to have our first town hall meeting of this session.
We will be giving you an update on current legislation that we have been working on during the 2024 legislative Session. We will also have time available to answer your questions and allow you to share your concerns.
Here is the list of towns and the times that we will be in each town:
8:00-9:00 AM (MT) Wallace Co., Sharon Springs
The Wallace County Senior Center – 223 N. Main Street
9:30 – 10:30 AM (MT) Sherman Co., Goodland
Goodland Public Library – 812 Broadway
12:30 – 1:30 PM Cheyenne Co., St. Francis
St. Francis Public Library – 121.N. Scott Street
2:00 – 2:45 PM Rawlins Co., Atwood
5ten Main Youth Center – 510 Main Street
3:15 – 4:00 PM Decatur Co., Oberlin
The Golden Age Center – 105 W. Maple
4:45 – 5:30 PM Thomas Co., Colby
Colby Community College Student Union, Room 106
I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email: [email protected] or call me with your questions or concerns. My office number is 785 296-7399 or my cell is 785 899-4700.
If you are in Topeka, stop by my office at 545-S.
Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, is senator of the 40th District which includes: